einkaufen gehen
To go shopping
직역: to go in-buying
Use it for any routine trip to a store, especially for groceries or daily necessities.
15초 만에
- Used for all types of shopping errands.
- Combines 'einkaufen' (to shop) and 'gehen' (to go).
- Essential for planning daily life and chores.
뜻
This phrase is the standard way to say you're heading out to buy things, whether it's groceries for dinner or a new pair of jeans.
주요 예문
3 / 6Planning the day with a roommate
Ich muss heute Nachmittag einkaufen gehen.
I have to go shopping this afternoon.
Inviting a friend to the mall
Möchtest du mit mir einkaufen gehen?
Would you like to go shopping with me?
Explaining your absence to a boss
In der Mittagspause gehe ich kurz einkaufen.
I'm going shopping briefly during the lunch break.
문화적 배경
In Germany, shopping is heavily influenced by 'Sonntagsruhe' (Sunday rest). Since shops are closed on Sundays, the phrase is often used with a sense of urgency on Friday or Saturday. Additionally, Germans often bring their own reusable bags ('Stoffbeutel') when they go shopping to avoid paying for plastic ones.
The Sunday Secret
If you say 'Ich gehe am Sonntag einkaufen,' Germans will look at you funny. Remember, almost everything is closed! The only exceptions are gas stations and shops in major train stations.
Kaufen vs. Einkaufen
Use 'kaufen' when you have a specific object (Ich kaufe einen Apfel). Use 'einkaufen' for the general activity (Ich gehe einkaufen).
15초 만에
- Used for all types of shopping errands.
- Combines 'einkaufen' (to shop) and 'gehen' (to go).
- Essential for planning daily life and chores.
What It Means
This phrase is your ultimate ticket to daily survival in Germany. It simply means 'to go shopping.' It covers the whole process of leaving your house and visiting a store. You can use it for your weekly grocery run. You can also use it for a trip to the mall. It is the most common way to describe this errand. Think of it as the 'all-in-one' phrase for buying stuff.
How To Use It
The phrase combines two verbs: einkaufen and gehen. In a standard sentence, gehen takes the second position. Ich gehe heute einkaufen. It is very simple to conjugate. If you are asking a friend to join, say Gehen wir einkaufen? You do not need to name a specific item. The focus is on the activity of going to the shops. It is a very flexible and useful structure for beginners.
When To Use It
Use it whenever you are planning a trip to any store. It is perfect for daily planning with roommates or family. Tell your partner Ich gehe einkaufen before you head to the supermarket. Use it when you realize the fridge is empty. It works perfectly in a professional setting too. If a colleague asks about your lunch break, you can use it. It is a neutral, safe, and helpful phrase for any time of day.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for massive, one-time life purchases. You would not 'go shopping' for a house or a car. For those big items, just use the verb kaufen. Also, avoid it if you are already inside the store. Once you are there, you are simply einkaufen. The 'gehen' part implies the movement to the location. If you are buying a gift online, this phrase does not really fit either.
Cultural Background
Germany has a very famous rule called Ladenschlussgesetz. This means almost every shop is closed on Sundays. Because of this, einkaufen gehen becomes a massive event on Saturdays. You will see huge crowds at every supermarket before the Sunday closure. It is a weekly ritual for many German families. Planning your shopping trip is actually a necessary survival skill. If you forget your milk on Saturday, you might wait until Monday!
Common Variations
Younger people often use the Denglish version shoppen gehen. This usually refers to buying clothes, electronics, or things for fun. If you are just getting bread and eggs, stick to einkaufen gehen. You might also hear Besorgungen machen. This translates to 'running errands' and is a bit more general. However, for a learner, einkaufen gehen is always the best choice. It is clear, correct, and understood by everyone from Berlin to Munich.
사용 참고사항
This phrase is extremely common and safe for A1 learners. It follows standard German sentence structure where the second verb moves to the very end.
The Sunday Secret
If you say 'Ich gehe am Sonntag einkaufen,' Germans will look at you funny. Remember, almost everything is closed! The only exceptions are gas stations and shops in major train stations.
Kaufen vs. Einkaufen
Use 'kaufen' when you have a specific object (Ich kaufe einen Apfel). Use 'einkaufen' for the general activity (Ich gehe einkaufen).
Separable Verb Trap
The verb 'einkaufen' is separable. If you don't use 'gehen', it becomes 'Ich kaufe ein.' But with 'gehen', it stays together at the end!
예시
6Ich muss heute Nachmittag einkaufen gehen.
I have to go shopping this afternoon.
A standard way to announce your plans for the day.
Möchtest du mit mir einkaufen gehen?
Would you like to go shopping with me?
A friendly invitation for a shared errand or fun trip.
In der Mittagspause gehe ich kurz einkaufen.
I'm going shopping briefly during the lunch break.
Professional yet direct about your personal errands.
Wir haben keine Milch mehr. Ich geh einkaufen!
We have no more milk. I'm going shopping!
Shortened 'geh' is very common in casual texting.
Ich wollte nur Brot, aber ich bin für 100 Euro einkaufen gegangen.
I only wanted bread, but I went shopping for 100 Euros.
Relatable humor about overspending at the supermarket.
Ich hasse es, am Samstag einkaufen zu gehen.
I hate going shopping on Saturdays.
Expresses the common frustration with weekend crowds.
셀프 테스트
Complete the sentence to say you are going shopping tomorrow.
Morgen ___ ich ___.
In German, the conjugated verb 'gehe' takes the second position, and 'einkaufen' goes to the end.
How do you ask someone if they want to go shopping?
Wollen wir ___ ___?
'einkaufen gehen' is the standard phrase for general shopping errands.
🎉 점수: /2
시각 학습 자료
Shopping Formality & Intent
Very casual, usually for fun or fashion.
Lust auf die Mall?
Neutral, standard for groceries and errands.
Ich brauche Brot.
More formal, implies a list of tasks.
Ich habe viel zu tun.
Where to use 'Einkaufen gehen'
Supermarket
Buying food for the week.
Bakery
Getting fresh rolls in the morning.
Clothing Store
Looking for a new jacket.
Pharmacy
Picking up basic supplies.
자주 묻는 질문
10 질문'Kaufen' is used for specific items, like Ich kaufe ein Auto. 'Einkaufen' refers to the general activity of shopping, like Ich gehe einkaufen.
Yes, it is perfectly fine. However, many younger Germans prefer shoppen gehen for clothes and fun items.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your grandmother, or your best friend without any issues.
You use the Perfekt tense: Ich bin einkaufen gegangen. Note that it uses 'sein' as the auxiliary verb.
It is a separable prefix. In the phrase einkaufen gehen, it stays attached because it is in the infinitive form at the end of the sentence.
You can say Ich schaue mich nur um, which means 'I am just looking around.'
Many Germans prefer to buy fresh bread or produce daily or every few days rather than doing one massive monthly shop.
Not really. For online shopping, people usually say online bestellen (to order online) or online shoppen.
That is a 'shopping stroll.' It is a more relaxed, leisurely version of einkaufen gehen where you walk through town.
No, you can just say Ich kaufe ein. Adding gehen emphasizes the trip to the store.
관련 표현
shoppen gehen
Besorgungen machen
einen Einkaufsbummel machen
im Supermarkt sein
Geld ausgeben
댓글 (0)
로그인하여 댓글 달기무료로 언어 학습 시작하기
무료로 학습 시작